The Most Interesting Things Jim Harbaugh Said: Bowling Green Week

Jim Harbaugh is one week away from returning to the sidelines for Michigan as his team prepares to take on Bowling Green at night.

Jim Harbaugh is now two-thirds of the way through his suspension, which has given him a unique vantage point during his team's first two games. He spoke about many things on Monday ahead of the matchup with Bowling Green and is obviously ready to get back onto the sidelines after this week.

1. "The kind of throws [JJ McCarthy is] making, too, they're NFL-caliber throws; into tight windows. The accuracy is off the charts."

Amen. I've said it dozens of times now — the kid is absolutely locked in and seems to be playing while seeing in slow motion. He has been so sharp and accurate and he has 3+ throws in each game, really during his entire time at Michigan, where you just say, "Wow." He's going to have one hell of a highlight tape for NFL scouts to look at when the time comes because has made some of the most impressive throws you'll see a college quarterback make during his time at Michigan.

2. "The one we're still evaluating is the backup quarterback spot and we made a mistake. Coach [Mike] Hart put in Davis Warren ahead of Jayden Denegal. This week you'll see it'll be JJ, and if we go to a backup quarterback, it'll be Denegal and Alex Orji."

Ever since Jim Harbaugh anointed him as the best kick returner in the history of football, we've all been wondering where Orji is. At 6-3, 236 pounds, he is a specimen, which is why it had grown so puzzling that we hadn't seem him on the field yet. Apparently we will when the Wolverines take on Bowling Green, but in what capacity? If it's just as a potential third or fourth-string quarterback against MAC level backups, I'm not sure that will live up to Harbaugh's comments. 

3. "The goal is for J.J. to be the best quarterback in the country on the best football team."

And I firmly believe that goal is on its way to being achieved. McCarthy isn't going to have gaudy numbers like USC's Caleb Williams or North Carolina's Drake Maye, but he is going to be elite when it comes to accuracy, efficiency and leadership from the toughest position on one of the nation's best teams. As was mentioned above, he'll have a tape loaded with scary good NFL throws and when the time comes, he'll smoke a combine setting. He will also ace in-person interviews and will blow everyone away with his mentality, attitude and approach. He's going to be hard to retain after this, his junior year.

4. "There's a great picture of my dad sitting on the bench wearing his No. 13 and my mom behind him as a cheerleader at Bowling Green."

Michigan is expected to roll Bowling Green, but what a cool experience for the Harbaugh family. As Jim explained, his mom was a cheerleader there and his dad was a player for the Falcons. Now 40+ years later, the Harbaughs will welcome Bowling Green to Ann Arbor for week three. It's probably a little bittersweet since Jim won't be coaching, but it's still pretty cool to see something like this come full circle as an entire family.

5. "[Kenneth Grant is] a gift from the football gods, along with Mason Graham. They were the two. They're both playing tremendous."

What beasts these two TRUE SOPHOMORES are. Grant, all 340+ pounds of him, and Graham, the former wrestler who looks unblockable at times, are already so good and still have so much room to grow. With at least another full year left at Michigan and likely two, this duo could end up being one of the best interior D-line tandems in the country before it's all said and done. So far, the pair has accounted for 12 tackles, including four for loss and two sacks. They have also both consistently pressed the pocket from the interior, which is a major problem for opposing quarterbacks. Look out for big Nos. 78 and 55 the rest of the way in 2023 and beyond.